Ribbon mechanism for type-writing machines.



No. 692,235. Patented Feb. 4, I902.

L. S. BURRIDGE. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(Application fi led Oct. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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ATTORNEYQ 4 Sheets-Shaet 2.

Patented Feb. 4, I902.

L. S. BURRIDGE.

(Application filed Oct. 1, 1898.)

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(No Model.)

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L. S. BUBRIDGE.

- RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(Application filed Out. 1, 1898.,

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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I TTVORNEYS Patented Feb. 4, I902. L. S. BUBRIDGE.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(Application filed Oct. 1, 1898.| (No Model.)

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45 affixed thereto.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE S. BURRIDGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION TYPE- VVRITER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPIEGIFEQATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 692,235, dated February 4, 1902.

' Original application filed February 10. 189 8, Serial No. 669,807. Divided and this application filed October 1, 1.898. Serial No. 692,397. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE S. BUREIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon Mechanism for Type-friting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ribbon mechanism for type-wri ting machines,

the present application being a division of my application, Serial No. 669,807, filed February 10, 1898.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the ink-ribbon may be carried into proximity with the platen by the action of the universal mechanism as the type-bar comes into printing position, while enabling said type-bar and universal mechanism to move to a certain extent independently of the motion of the ink-ribbon frame, so as to properly fulfil their printing and feeding functions. For this purpose I provide a lostmotion connection between the universal mechanism and the frame which operates the ure 1 is a top View, partly broken away, of a type-writing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1 looking toward the platen. Fig. 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional view of the machine, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail side view .of parts of the machine to be hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the frame or base of the machine, and B the type-bars, pivotally supported thereon at a. The type-bars B are provided with retracting-springs 5 and are guided in slots 0 in a horizontalcomb-plate O. Each typebar 13 carries at its upper end a type-block Z), having a plurality of types formed thereon or I prefer to form it with three types, arranged one above another, corresponding to three different positions of the platen, as hereinafter described.

The horizontal combplate O is fastened to and supported above the base A by a vertical comb-plate O, fastened in any suitable manner to the base A. Vertical slots 0 in this combplate receive and guide the key-levers D, carrying the keys (Z, and said key-levers are pivoted at their inner ends to a support or fulcrum, as hereinafter described, and have down wardly-projecting arms 7, carrying pins 8, engaging in notches 9 in the lower portion of the respective type-bars. As the key-levers are depressed they carry the pins 8 downward, and thus throw the type-bars forward. Owing to the arc or segmental form of the pivot-rod for the type-bars and the consequent segmental disposition of said bars, the latter are caused when in action to move toward the platen in converging paths, the point of meeting of these paths being the point at which impression is effected against the platen. The slots 0 in comb-plate C are of course properly arranged to conform to these converging paths.

The cylindrical platen E is substantially in the same horizontal plane as the types (it is here shown slightly below them) and is turned in the usual manner on a carriage F by a knob e. The carriage is supported by arms f, attached to the carriage-frame and loosely embracing a horizontal rod G, which is arranged below and parallel with the carriage and is guided at the ends in slots 10, formed in vertical standards 11 on the base. Shifting devices hereinafter described support this rod G in the said slots at different elevations corresponding to the several sets of types on the type-bars. Thus there being in this case three types on each type-bar the platen is by the aforesaid devices held in any one of three different elevations, so as to cause one or another of these types to come against the platen when the corresponding key is struck.

The keydevers D are here shown as supported on a yielding fulcrum consisting of a U -frame 30, whose two arms embrace and are pivoted to a central standard 31, projecting up from the base of the machine. Said U- frame has a knife-edge 32 hearing down on the top of the rear ends of the key-levers, said knife-edge engaging in notches 33 in the tops of the keylevers. Another U -frame 3;, embracing and pivoted to the standard 31, bears up against the bottom of said key-levers. A strong spring or springs hold the frame 30 down against a fixed stop 36, and a Weaker spring 36 holds the frame 34 up against the key-levers. This construction is fully described and claimed in my application Serial No. 669,807.

The escapement mechanism consists of a rack-bar 12 on the carriage F engaging with dog-plates P P 011 a'vertical pivot-post 16, which is operated by the universal lever or frame 24, to which it is connected by arms 20 and 22 and link 21, said frame 24 extending under all the type key-levers, so as to be operated by the depression of any one of same. A spring 28 serves to pull the arm 22 rearwardly, and a spring 40 serves to propel the carriage when released from the escapement.

represents the ink-ribbon, carried by ribbon-spools 51 and passing through a vibrating frame 52, which is so connected to the universal spacing mechanism as to carry the ribbon toward and away from the platen as the type approaches and leaves the platen.

For this purpose the frame 52 is pivoted to the standard 31 and has an arm 52 connected to the arm 22 of the universal spacing mechanism, such connection being preferably effected through an intermediate lever 53,which permits the ink-ribbon frame to yield when it comes in contact with the platen, so as not to prevent the cont-inued'movement of the universal spacing mechanism after the inkribbon frame is arrested by contact either Wit-h the platen or with any other suitable stop and before the type strikes the platen, and hence before the completion of the movement of the universal bar and key-lever and other connected parts. By this mechanism in case the ribbon vibrating or reciprocating frame should be independently arrested before the type strikes the platen the universal bar mechanism may have additional movement, whereby the type-bar is permitted to continue toward the platen and the impression may be made after such arrest of the ribbon-frame, which would not be the case if there were no lost motion or yielding connection between the ribbon-frame and the universal bar. This lever 53 engages by a pin 54: with a slot 55 on the arm 52 of frame 52 and is pivoted to the arm 22, a spring 56 holding an arm 53 of said lever 53 against a stop 57, so that vibration of the universal spacing mechanism causes vibration of the frame 52, as aforesaid. The spring 56 is stiff enough to hold the lever 53 ordinarily against its stop during such motion, but permits the frame 52 to yield when brought up against the platen, as aforesaid.

Fixed guide-plates 58 59 are placed, respectively, above and below the printingpointthat is to say, the point at which the type strikes the platen-these guide-plates being placed far enough apart to permit the passing of the ribbon and the type-blocks between them and being supported by the standard 31. Each of these fixed guide-plates has a notch in line with the printing-point to insure exact alinement of the type in printing, and the type-blocks Z) are mounted on stems b, which engage in such notches, both above and below the type-block. On each side of said notches the forward sides of the guideplate are flared forward and outward in V shape, with the aforesaid notch at the apex, so as to insure the passage of the type-block stems into said notches.

The ribbon-feed mechanism consists of a ratchet-wheel 62, operated by the universal mechanism, as hereinafter described, and fast on one of the vertical shafts 63, on which the ribbon-spools 51 are mounted. The shafts 63 turn freely in the machine-frame and are connected together, as by pulleys 64 and reversed or crossed cord or belt 65, so as to turn unitedly in opposite directions. At the top of each spool 51 is a hand-nut 66, whereby either spool may be clamped to its supporting-shaft. The ratchet-Wheel 62 is operated by a pawl 67, carried by an arm 68, swinging around the same shaft 63 which carries the ratchet-wheel, and a pin 69 on the arm 22 of the universal spacing mechanism engages in a slot 70 on the arm 68, so as to vibrate the pawl 67, and thus turn the ratchet-wheel and its shaft one step at every operation of the universalspacingmechanism. Assumingone of the spools to be clamped to its shaft by its hand-nut 66,Whiie the other hand-nut is loose, then the clamped spool will be turned with its post and will slowly wind up the ribbon on said spool and unwind it from the other spool. Whenever it is desired to reverse the motion, the hand-nut of the other spool is tightened up, and the previously-clamped spool is loosened by turning its hand-nut, and the ribbon will then be wound on the other spool on account of the reverse moyement of the two shafts 63.

To operate the bell 71 so as to indicate when the carriage has arrived at a certain point of its path, I provide the clapper of said hell with an extension or arm 72, capable of engaging with a trip device consisting of a block 73, having an inclined bearing-face for striking the clapper-arm, and supported on the rack-bar 12 by arms 74, embracing said rack-bar, and drawn together by a thumbscrew 75, by which the said arms may be clamped tightly on the rack-bar, so as to hold the block 73 in any desired position thereon, and thus determine the point at which the bell will be operated.

Means are here shown for shifting the carriage vertically to bring different types into operation, the same consisting of cam-levers 79, having slots 30 engaging with the combined traverse and shift rod G, hereinbefore described, which is operatively connected to the platen-frame, and said levers are effective to raise or depress the platen-frame and the platen carried thereby when the cam-levers are shifted by the operation of shift key-lever L, arm 77, connected thereto, rock-shaft 78, carrying cam-levers 79 and arm 77, and spring 85, engaging with arm 77.

It will be observed that I have provided a pair of pulleys, a cord engaging both pulleys, a ribbon-spool releasably connected, as by finger-nuts 66, to each pulley, a ratchet-wheel connected to one of said pulleys, and a pawl operatively connected to the universal bar and engaging said ratchet-wheel to effect the rotation of both pulleys, that each spool is preferably arranged at the upper end of a vertical shaft, and that said ratchet-wheel is secured to one of said shafts, so that intermittent rotation of both ratchet-wheel and shaft is caused by reciprocatory movements of the u niversal bar, means beingprovided for transmitting the movement of said ratchet-wheel to the other of said vertical shafts, so as to cause the ribbon to wind upon the spool thereon, and said transmitting means preferably consisting of a pulley arranged upon the lower end of each shaft and a crossed cord or band connecting the pulleys. It will also be seen that each shaft extends downwardly to a point below the level of the type-bar system and that the means for connecting the shafts extend across the machine below the type-bar system. It will further be noted that arm 22 is secured to the universal bar or to a part of the universal-bar frame, and hence moves in unison with the universal bar, and that means are provided for enabling said arm to rotate either of the spools and to reciprocate the ribbon-guide, as well as to control the letterspa'cing movements of the platen.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a type-bar mechanism, a universal-bar mechanism, an inking-ribbon, a movable frame for carrying said ribbon to and from the printing-point and so arranged that it may be arrested when the ribbon is brought to the printing-point, and a yielding connection between said ribbon carrying frame and the universal-bar mechanism so constructed and operating as that if the ribbon-frame should be arrested at the printingpoint before the type has completed its printing stroke, the motion of said universal-bar mechanism may be continued in order to permit the type to complete said printing stroke and make its impression, said connection yielding so as to permit said continued motion of the universal-bar mechanism.

2. In a type-writer the combination with the platen, the ink-ribbon, type-bar and key mechanism, and the universal mechanism operated by said key mechanism, of a movable frame engaging with the ink-ribbon and constructed to be arrested before the completion of the movement of the universal mechan ism, a lost-motion connection between said frame and the universal'mechanism such that the movement of said universal mechanism may be continued subsequently to the arrest of said ribbon-frame, and a spring for taking up said lost motion.

3. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a vibratory ribbon supporting and guiding frame, suitable key-levers, universal mechanism operated by said key-levers and yielding connection from said universal mechanism to said ribbon supporting and guiding frame, said ribbon-frame being arrestedbefore the completion of the movement of said universal mechanism, and said yielding connection permitting the continued movement of said universal mechanism afterthe arrest of said ribbon-frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of the vibratory ribbon supportingand guiding frame having an operative arm, suitable key-levers, universal mechanism operated by said key-levers and a spring-pressed lever pivoted to said universal mechanism and engaging the arm of said vibratory ribbon supporting and guiding frame, said ribbon-frame being arrested before the completion of the movement of said universal mechanism, and said spring-lever permitting the continued movement of said universal mechanism after the arrest of said ribbon-frame, substantially as and for the purposes'set forth.

5. In atype-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a series-of type-bars, a reciprocatory ribbon-guide arranged in proximity to said platen and arranged to be arrested, a

universal-bar frame, alever pivoted thereon, a stop arranged on said frame, and a spring adapted to normally press said lever against said stop, said lever being connected to said reciprocatory ribbon-guide, the construction and arrangement being such that after the arrest of said ribbon-guide further movement of the universal-bar frame is permitted by reason of the independent vibration of the said lever thereon in opposition to the tension of said spring.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, a series of types and a universal bar, of a pair of pulleys, a cord engaging both pulleys, a ribbon-spool releasably connected to each pulley, a ratchet-wheel connected to one of said pulleys, and a pawl operatively connected to the universal bar and engaging said ratchet-wheel to effect the rotation of both pulleys.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type-bars, and a universal bar, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a vertical shaft for each spool, operative connections arranged between said universal bar and one only of said shafts, and means for enabling said one shaft to cause the ribbon to wind upon either spool.

8. In atype-writing machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type-bars and a &

thereon.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen and a series of type-bars, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a vertical shaft for each spool, means for rotating one of said shafts, a pulley arranged upon each shaft, and a crossed cord engaging both of said pulleys, whereby one of said shafts is driven by the other.

10. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a platen of a series of type-bars arranged forwardly thereof, a pair of ribbonspools also arranged forwardly of the platen, a Vertical shaft for each spool, each of said shafts extending downwardly to a point below the level of the type-bar system, means for rotating one of said shafts, and means connected to said shafts and extending across the machine below the type-bar system and connected to the other shaft, whereby rotary movement is imparted to the latter.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, a series of type-bars and a universal bar, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a vertical shaft for each spool, operative connections arranged between said universal bar and one only of said shaft-s, means for enabling said shaft to cause the ribbon to wind upon either spool, and a reciprocatory guide for said ribbon arranged at a point between the spools bars, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a reciprocatory ribbonguide arranged between said spools, a universal bar, an arm secured to said universal bar, means for enabling said arm to rotate either of said spools to wind the ribbon thereon, and means for enabling said arm to reciprocate said ribbon-guide.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen and a series of typebars, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a reciprocatory ribbonguide arranged between said spools, a universal bar, an arm secured to said universal bar, means for enabling said arm to rotate either of said spools to wind the ribbon thereon, means for enabling said arm to reciprocate said ribbon-guide, and means for enabling said arm to control the letter-spacing movements of said platen.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen and a series of typebars, of a pair of ribbon-spools arranged forwardly of the platen, a reciprocatory ribbonguide arranged between said spools and arranged to be arrested, a universal bar, an arm secured to said universal bar, means for enabling said arm to rotate either of said spools to wind the ribbon thereon, means for enabling said arm to reciprocate said ribbonguide, and means for enabling said universal bar to continue in motion after said ribbonguide has been independently arrested.

LEE S. BURRID GE. 

